Marine and Coastal Protected Areas

30. 
    Which of the following statements can best describe the current status of marine and coastal protected areas in your country? Please use an “X” to indicate your response.
    

1. 
   Marine and coastal protected areas have been declared and gazetted (please indicate below how many)
   

2. 
   Management plans for these marine and coastal protected areas have been developed with involvement of all stakeholders
   

3. 
   Effective management with enforcement and monitoring has been put in place
   

4. 
   A national system or network of marine and coastal protected areas is under development
   

5. 
   A national system or network of marine and coastal protected areas has been put in place
   

6. 
   The national system of marine and coastal protected areas includes areas managed for purpose of sustainable use, which may allow extractive activities
   

7. 
   The national system of marine and coastal protected areas includes areas which exclude extractive uses
   

8. 
   The national system of marine and coastal protected areas is surrounded by sustainable management practices over the wider marine and coastal environment.
   

9. 
   Other (please describe below)
   

10. 
    Not applicable
    

b) Management schemes are either in preparation or agreed to manage for interest features in marine and coastal Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Many coastal SACs have management agreements in place for the national designations which underpin the sites. Management of SPAs is covered either by their inclusion within a European Marine Site management scheme (a European marine site may consist of a SAC or SACs, SPAs or a combination), or by a range of management options frequently agreed for underpinning National designation, such as NNR or SSSI. Management plans are in place or in preparation for all Ramsar sites. Consultation with stakeholders is a key part of the preparation of management plans.

d) A national network of marine protected areas is being considered as part of the UK’s commitment under the OSPAR Commission. The UK will contribute to a network of marine protected areas for the north-east Atlantic OSPAR maritime area.

e) A national system of coastal protected areas has been put in place through the implementation of the European Habitats and Birds Directives as well as the designation of Ramsar sites and Marine Nature Reserves.

f) SACs and SPAs are areas which aim to contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity in Europe but do not require the exclusion of natural resource use so long as it does not have a significant effect on the site’s management. New extractive activities within a site which are likely to have a significant effect on the site’s management are subject to an appropriate assessment.

g) In some protected areas, particular types of extractive use have been stopped and in one marine protected area (Lundy MNR Special Area of Conservation) a no-take zone (NTZ) has been established where no extractive use is allowed. In addition to this, a series of no-take zones are being established as part of a trial project in Cornwall in collaboration with local stakeholders, and a NTZ is being considered for Skomer.